Friday, November 28, 2014

Last weekend decided to go back to Breckenridge park for birding again. This time weather was very good for birding. Reached the park around 8:30AM. I have been trying to make it to the parks a little early but its been tough since our little one keeps us awake during nights. But still birding in Winter should be good throughout the day.

On reaching the park I saw good number of Yellow Rumped Warblers foraging in group. There were Mocking birds singing their beautiful songs. And Jays making their usual noise :-) I still haven't got a decent photograph of a Blue Jay here. Lot of squirrels could be seen around. But I still miss the ground squirrels which I used to see in San Jose parks :-(

Northern Mockingbird

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Blue Jay

I also saw lot of Flickers during the walk along with Red Bellied woodpeckers. The woodpeckers seem to be very vocal here. Downy woodpeckers and Red-bellied Woodpeckers could be seen in good numbers throughout the park.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

I also saw group of White Throated sparrows. A lone American kestrel was hovering near the lake area. I did not see lot of Water fowls in the lake area.

Savannah Sparrow

American Kestrel

Tufted Titmouses and Carolina Chickadees's were as usual very vocal and could be heard through out the day along with the Northern Cardinals.

Tufted Titmouse

Also saw some of these small birds which I could not identify through out the walk.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Eastern Bluebird(Female)

Carolina Wrens could be heard through out the park. They have a very high pitched vocals wherein they come out in the open and start calling. American Robin's were also seen couple of times during the walk.

American Robin

Carolina Wren

I also saw these Sapsuckers which I'm not sure of the ID's(Red-naped/Yellow-bellied).

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker(Juvenile)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

The interesting sighting of the day were the Cedar waxwings. Very beautiful cute little birds. I have been wanting to see them here. They are winter migrants to this area. I saw them twice during the walk. They could be seen in flocks feeding and drinking in nearby water streams.

Cedar Waxwing

Another interesting sighting was this bird which looked like Sparrow/finch. Had heavy streakings and looked very different. I'm yet to find the ID of this bird. It had very beautiful colors at the back.

Red-winged Blackbird

And other common birds seen during the walk were Black vulture, Red Tailed Hawk, Grackle, Eastern Pheobe, Mourning Doves, Juncos and Finches.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Last week we went to see fall colors in Oklahoma state driving through the Talimena scenic drive. We stayed in one of the Cabins in a wooded area. It was a very nice place with no traffic and all you could do was enjoy the mother nature. There was a small pond and the wooded area was visited by lot of birds. We did couple of walks in the morning to watch birds, photography was too poor because of the light. But nonetheless I enjoyed those walks thoroughly. It was a different feeling to hear and see the birds in a place like that. I hope I get to do this cabin stay again before I go back to India but this time I would want to just relax and enjoy the nature rather than drive long distances :-)

This week the weather has been unforgiving. It has been freezing cold through out the week. But I did not want to be at home during the weekend. So I shortlisted 4 parks close by and members in Audubon bird forum were kind enough to suggest the best place to visit during this time of the winter. I was suggested to walk the trails in Breckenridge Park. This park is about 2.5 miles from my home. The weather was not going to stop me from going for this walk :-)

So on Saturday morning woke up at 6 AM and my wife had already woke up and had prepared breakfast for me to carry for the walk. Got ready and started from home after having a nice cup of hot coffee. Reached the park at around 8:30 which was a little late since I kept stopping on the way to watch the birds along the path. It was overcast conditions which was not suitable for photography. I also started doubting if I would get to see any birds today but I was wrong:-)

At first I stopped by the huge lake where I saw good number of Mallards, a lone Great Blue Heron and another weird looking bird. I also saw few ducks which seemed like cross breeds.

White Winged Dove

ID?

Great Blue Heron

Ring-billed Gull

ID?

Throughout the walk I saw lot of Carolina and Northern Cardinals. Near the football ground I took another small trail which goes into the woods a little. That turned out to be a very good trail for birding. All of a sudden I could hear lot of birds. There were Brown Creeper, Chickadees, Downy Woodpecker, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Yellow Rumped Warbler and I also saw couple of Carolina Wren's chasing each other. But the surprise was to see this another wren which looks like a Winter wren. My first sighting of this bird. It was a lone bird.

Carolina Chickadee

Winter Wren

Brown Creeper

Eastern Phoebe

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Further along the trail I saw lot of Eastern Bluebirds. Very cute birds which can be seen feeding on the ground as well as on the trees. I also saw a mixed flock of birds which had Yellow Rumped Warbler, Chickadees, Ruby Crowned Kinglet and few other birds. I also saw this bird which I could not identify.

American Goldfinch(Female)

I see lot of Grackles but have never been able to get their ID's correct.

Greater-tailed Grackle

I also saw a Merlin on the trail. My first sighting of this bird :-) I saw him again on my way back on one of the wires on road. Again at on of place close to the stream I saw lot of birds which included Yellow Rumped Warblers, Cardinal, Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Field Sparrow and White Throat-ed Sparrow. Also visited by Northern Flicker and Downy Woodpeckers.

Eastern Bluebird

Merlin

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Northern Cardinal

Field Sparrow

And almost at the end of trail while watching Red Bellied woodpecker got to see a Thrush which looks like Hermit Thrush. Need to confirm the ID.

Mourning Dove

Hermit Thrush

Downy Woodpecker

I enjoyed walk thoroughly and hope to return to this park again very soon and this time I hope weather is a little co-operating:-)